Diathermy and galvanic ear set



Sept. 18, 1928.

DE FOREST B. CATLIN DIATHERMY AND GALVANIC EAR SET may:

Patented Sept. is, less.

UNl'l'ED DE FOREST B. GATLIN, F BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

DIA'II-IERMY AND GALVANIC EATR SET.

Application filed August 1 1926. Serial No. 128,613.

This invention relates to means for treating by diathermy, and likemeans, those portions of the human head which include the ears and thehead tissues between the ears.

An ear set embodying the invention includes other through the interposedtissues and a pair of electrodes formed to be engaged with and supportedby the ears of a patient in position to cause the current employed indiathermy to pass from one electrode to the generate heat which isconcentrated at a predetermined point between the electrodes, the pointbeing determined by the size of the electrodes, r, in other words, thesurface areas thereof contacting with the skin. It is a generallyaccepted fact that the generation of heat within the tissues by the useof diathermy equi nnent may be localized. to a considerable extent bythe employment of electrodes, one of which is lar and presents a greaterarea to the skin than the other, the highest temperature being nearestthe smaller electrode. My invention is embodied in certain improvementsin the form and construction of the electrodes and ot' the means forholding the same in their operative positions, the constriiictionpermitting the conjoint use of a smaller and a larger electrode and theuse of di'lierently termed larger and smaller electrodesinterchangeably, the general object being to provide practical andefiicient means for quickly applying diathermy and electrical modalitiesin the treatment 0t pathologic condiclns of the ear, and locating themaximum heat at the desired point between the electrodes.

Of the accompanying drawings,-

Fig. 1 is a side elevation 01 an. ear set embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is an end view of the same looking toward the lower end in Fig;1;

Fig. 3 is a section on line 33 of Fig. l shows in elevation, and Fig. 5in perspective, the larger electrode shown by Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a section on line 66 of 1;

F '7 is a fragmentary sectional View showing another form of electrode.

The same reference characters designate the same parts in all thefigures wherever they occur.-

In the drawings, 12 and 13 designate respectively a larger and a smallerelectrode, the larger electrode 12 being usu. .-y called the indifferentelectrode to distinguish it from the smaller electrode. The terms largerand smaller as used herein refer to the areas of contact, the electrode12 called the larger electrode having a greater area of contact than theelectrode 13 called the smaller electrode. Each electrode may have anydesired form. As shown by Figs. 1, 4e, 5 and 6, thelarger electrodelQmay be a substantially ll-shaped frame surrounding an opening 141 formedto receive the protruding portion of a human ear 0 as shown by Fig.5,the inner side of the electrode contacting with the portion of the headsurrounding the protruding portion of the car. As shown by Figs. 1 and3, thosmaller electrode 13 may be substantially conical and formed toenter the outer cavity of the ear. desired, the smaller electrode 13 maybe concayo convex, as shown by F 7, its convex side contacting withsurfaces of the outer cavity of the car. In any case, the term of theelectrodes is such that they may be engaged with and supported by theears of the patient when the electrodes are ongage-d with the yoke nextdescribed. 7

Said yoke connects and depends from the electrodes, and is I composed ofconducting arms 16 contacting with the electrodes and provided withbinding posts 17, to engage conducting wires, and a neck connecting thearms and insulating them from each other. The neck is tlexible so thatthe arms and electrodes are movable toward and from each other, and isprovided with means for yieldingly pressing the arms and electrodestoward each other so that the electrodes are preferred construction ofthe neck is shown by 1 and 2, and incluclues'members 18, 18 connected bya stop hinge, and insulatmembers 19, 19, connecting the members 18 withthe inner ends of the arms 16. The stop hinge is preferably formed bycars 20 formed on the members 18 and a pintle 21 connecting said ears inpairs, the stop portions of the hinges being formed by shoulders 23adapted to abut against each other, as shown by Fig. 1. The means foryield-' irgly pressing the arms and electrodes toward each other ispreferably embodied in a helical spring 22 (Fig. 2) surrounding thepint-lo E21, and having end portions'22 hearing on the members 18 andnormally holding the stop shoulders 23 in contact with each other, theanfangmnent being such that when the arms and electrodes are movedoutwardly from each other, as shown by dotted lines in i manipulated bythe patient to expand the yoke and move the arms and electrodes apartuntil objectionable pressure is removed. The electrodes arelooselykconnected with the arms so that eachselectrode is self-comforming to the surfaces with which it contacts. This connection ispreferably provided by sockets 26 in the free ends off the arms 16, andstuds 27 semired tothe electrodes and projecting loosely into thesockets so that the studs and electrodes are adepted to tip or beinclined in various directions relative to the arms. In the D- shapedtype of larger electrode 12 shown by the drawings, the stud 27 thereofis fixed to a looped handle member 28 which in turn is fixed at 29 tothe electrode.

.I claim;

.1. A diathermy ear set comprising a pair of electrodes formed to :beengaged with and supported by the ears of a patient; a yoke connectingthe electrodes and composed of conducting arms contacting with theelectrodes and having binding posts, :and a neck connecting the arms andinsulating them from each other, the neck including members connected bya :stop hinge and provided with .a spring normally extending saidmembers and maintaining the electrodes spaced a minimum distance apart.

'2. ,A diathermy ewrset comprising a pair of electrodes formed to beengaged with and supported by the ears of a patient; a yoke connectingthe electrodes and composed of conducting arms contacting withtheelectrodes and having bindin posts, and .a neck connecting the. arms andinsulating them from each other, the neck heingzflzexible so that theelectrodes are movable toward and from each other, the neck beingprovided with means for yieldingly pressing the electrodes toward eachother and against surof electrodes-formed to be engaged with andsupported by the ears of a patient; a yoke connecting the electrodes andcomposed of conducting arms contacting with the electrodes and havingbinding posts. and a neck connecting the arms and insulating them fromeach other, the neck being flexible so that the electrodes are movabletoward and from each other, the neck being provided with means foryieldingly pressing the electrodes toward each other and against.surfaces between the electrodes, the armsbein provided with sockets intheir free .endsrand the electrodes with studs removably inserted insaid sockets and loose therein ,so that the electrodes may be inclinedin various directions relative to the arms.

i. A diathermy ear set comprising a pair of electrodes formed to beengaged with and supported by the ears of a patient; a yoke connectingthe electrodes and composed of conducting arms contacting with theelectnodes and having binding posts, and a neck connecting the arms andinsulating them from each other, the neck being flexible so that theelectrodes are movable toward and from each other, the neck beingprovided with means for yieldingly pressing the electrodes toward eachother and against surfaces between the electrodes, one of saidelectrodes being a frame formed to receive the flexible protrudingportion of a human ear and bear on head surfaces surrounding saidportion, and provided with a handle member having means for engagementwith one of said arms. In testimony whereof signature.

DE FOREST B. CATLIN.

I have affixed my

